 Wysłany: Śro 14:22, 13 Lis 2013 Temat postu: -- Sen. Harry Reid |
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| Sens. Harry Reid, Mo Cowan join push to pardon boxer Jack Johnson
WASHINGTON, March 6 () -- Sen. Harry Reid, himself a former boxer, said he has joined several other legislators seeking a pardon for Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion. Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Mo Cowan, D-Mass., announced Tuesday they are joining Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., in working to persuade President Barack Obama to get Johnson, who died in 1946, a posthumous pardon for what is regarded as a racially motivated conviction, the Las Vegas Sun reported Wednesday.Johnson won the heavyweight title and kept it until 1915, but was convicted in 1913 for violating the Mann Act,[url=http://www.fbrecs.com/]jimmy choo outlet[/url], designed to prevent prostitution and "immorality" but often exploited to intimidate interracial couples. Many have since argued Johnson, a charismatic black superstar, was persecuted for his involvement with white women, the newspaper noted."Johnson's memory was unjustly tarnished by a racially motivated criminal conviction, and it is now time to recast his legacy," Reid said in a statement.The House and Senate previously passed resolutions to posthumously pardon Johnson, but no president has granted the pardon. |
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